Africa-Press – South-Africa. A group of women gathered outside Parliament to highlight the impact of climate change on women, as International Women’s Day was marked around the world on Tuesday.
“It is generally women who suffer [from the impact of climate change],” said organiser Cassi Goodman by phone after the picket.
“With the drought, growing food, walking long distances to look for water and whenever there is stress in the system – it is women who are suffering,” she added.
The Cape Town leg of the picket formed part of similar gatherings worldwide, where women met to raise awareness of climate change.
At COP26 talks, 45 nations pledge to protect nature in climate change fight
Goodman said they networked, answered questions from people in the vicinity, and got to know other women’s struggles.
The picket was co-ordinated by the group Extinction Rebellion, which lobbies to declare a climate emergency, a halt to biodiversity loss, and a reduction of greenhouse gases.
In South Africa, President Cyril Ramaphosa appointed a Presidential Climate Change Coordinating Commission (P4C) to deal with a transition towards a “climate change resilient” economy and society.
South Africa has made an in-principle commitment to reaching net-zero CO2 emissions by 2050, but before then it has to figure out how to replace the work people will lose in the old energy fields, and develop a transition strategy to move away from using coal.
Efforts at exploring for gas as an alternative on the west and east coasts have been stymied by opposition from people who are concerned about the environment.
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